When it comes to capturing live underwater footage, the camera you choose makes all the difference. Whether you’re fishing, filming, exploring marine life, or conducting underwater inspections, the ability to stream in real-time to your phone or display is crucial. With the rise of systems like Seavu, which enable action cameras to livestream underwater, two contenders stand out: the DJI Action 5 Pro and the GoPro HERO13 Black.
In this article, we compare how these cameras perform in underwater livestreaming, with a focus on two key applications:
Seavuโs Seeker and Explorer Kits allow you to livestream footage from your action camera directly to your phone or tablet using the cameraโs app. This setup is ideal for fishing, exploring, marine education, and inspections where real-time visibility is essential.
๐ Verdict:
The DJI Action 5 Pro offers the most stable connection and the best app experience for mobile underwater livestreaming with Seavu kits. Its low-light performance is especially useful when filming deeper or in cloudy conditions.
๐ Verdict:
The GoPro HERO13 is solid, especially with its improved hardware, but is let down slightly by its app reliability. It works well with Seavu, but DJI is the better mobile-streaming option.
The Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit is the worldโs first underwater system to use DisplayPort over USB-C for direct, uncompressed video streaming and power delivery โ allowing seamless connection to TVs, monitors, and computers.
Currently, only the DJI Action 5 Pro supports this feature natively, but future action cameras are expected to follow.
๐ Verdict:
The DJI Action 5 Pro is currently the only camera on the market that supports this setup. It delivers exceptional quality, stable power, and unmatched ease of integration with Seavuโs Explorer+ Pro Kit.
At this time, the GoPro HERO13 does not support DisplayPort output over USB-C, making it incompatible with Seavuโs Explorer+ Pro Kit.
While GoPro offers alternatives like webcam mode or HDMI output via the Media Mod, these options come with trade-offs. To achieve both video output and continuous power, youโll need to run two separate cables โ one for HDMI and one for USB-C power โ which makes the setup bulkier and more complex.
In contrast, the DJI Action 5 Pro delivers both uncompressed video and power through a single USB-C connection using DisplayPort, offering a streamlined and efficient setup.
๐ซ Verdict:
For DisplayPort-based livestreaming with the Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit, the GoPro HERO13 is not compatible. Until GoPro enables DisplayPort output, the DJI Action 5 Pro remains the only choice.
Feature | DJI Action 5 Pro | GoPro HERO13 Black |
---|---|---|
Mobile App Livestreaming | โ Excellent | โ Excellent |
App Experience | โ Very user-friendly | โ Very good |
Low-Light Underwater Footage | โ Excellent | โ Excellent |
DisplayPort Streaming (TV/PC) | โ Fully Compatible | โ Not Supported |
Power While Streaming | โ Supported | โ Not Compatible |
Both cameras offer exceptional mobile livestreaming performance when used with Seavuโs Seeker or Explorer kits. The GoPro HERO13 delivers crisp footage, strong connectivity, and excellent low-light performance โ making it a reliable option for most underwater users.
However, the DJI Action 5 Pro edges ahead for a few key reasons:
If you’re primarily using Seavu to stream to your phone or tablet, both cameras are top-tier. But if you’re also looking to stream to a TV, monitor, or computer, the DJI Action 5 Pro is the clear winner for now.
Seavu Seeker Starter Kit โ Stream from DJI or GoPro to your phone
Seavu Explorer Adventure Kit โ Stabilised housing for live mobile streaming
Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit โ Direct video output to displays with DJI Action 5 Pro
Ready to dive into real-time underwater viewing? Explore Seavu Kits โ